UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has granted development consent for a 320 MW solar power plant.
The Peartree Hill Solar Farm is a Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP) because its capacity is over 100 MW. It is being developed by RWE and will be built in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
In addition to the 320MW solar PV installation, the site will have a co-located battery energy storage system (BESS). RWE has not yet announced the size of the BESS, but has secured a 448 MW export connection.
RWE submitted the project to the Planning Inspectorate in February 2025 and the application was accepted in March that year.
According to Solar Media Market Research, Peartree Hill has the largest embedded transmission network connection (BEGA) in the UK. The project has a phase 2 grid connection from 2033, so it is likely that a final connection date has not yet been given.
According to the developer, more than 95% of the solar power plant’s area will be made available for sheep grazing and the project will deliver more than 50% net biodiversity gain (GNH). RWE will provide a community benefit of up to £4.2 million.
The approval marks the 15e solar NSIP has been receiving a DCO since the current government came to power and comes a few months after the government approved it 800MW Springwell solar power station.
The project is RWE’s second solar NSIP to receive a DCO Byers Gill solar-plus-storage NSIP was approved last April. The company has applied for the maximum 800MW Tween Bridge solar farmwhich will also have a co-located BESS, with a capacity of 400 MW. It also features the High Grove Solar Farm, which will deliver 720 MW in the pre-application phase.
